Why India needs a viable Opposition

Voters deserve one. Democracy requires one. We need an alternative that people want, not just an anti-vote, says Mitali Saran.   In the merry storm of democracy, political winners and losers......

Was Obama chewing nicotine gum @ R-Day parade?

Obama pops chewing gum back in his mouth as he watches the Republic Day parade on Monday At the Republic Day parade where Barack Obama is the chief guest, the United States president was spotted......

Death of a salesman and other elite ironies

Three weeks after the attacks, Tarun J Tejpal, editor-in-chief, Tehelka magazine, reflects on its lessons for India. Rohinton Maloo was shot doing two things he enjoyed immensely. Eating good food......

Lunch at the world's best restaurant

We had heard about it. We had read articles and reviews about it. We had received e-mails praising it. We had watched television shows about it. And finally, we were going to it.To the Fat Duck,......

A few lessons for presenting a balanced Budget

Getting the balance between fiscal restraint and growth-contracting policy remains a problem, notes Abheek Barua. Image: Run rates of the fiscal numbers do look a little alarming. Photograph:......

How to spend wisely. 4 tips

Today's youth have higher disposable incomes as compared to their counterparts in earlier generations. The same has resulted in a significant change in lifestyles. Objects that were considered......

A peek into the world of free downloads in 2008

How many times have you looked at the price of a software and felt as if you would have to mortgage your house in order to get a full set? Genuine software prices, most of them at least, can be......

'My film wears patriotism on its sleeve'

'Who decides what is jingoistic?''What is patriotic?''Who decides Lagaan is patriotic and Gadar is jingoistic?' Photograph: Kind courtesy Milap Zaveri/Instagram Director Milap Zaveri returns with......

'Television will die a tragic death'

'I was playing a rockstar.''After three days, I get a script that my character will turn into a lion.''I felt I hadn't signed up for this, so I told Ekta about it.''Ekta told me, "Beta, na tu......

Dil Chahta Hai is 15. Its spirit remains ageless

'The non-cinephiles may hold up Sholay as their personal favourite and the cinephile lot may quote something like 8 1/2 as the movie to load with them on the ark.''But for a good percentage of......

Raja Sen's Most Memorable Characters of 2015

Who were the ones we'd have liked to see more of, or ones we wouldn't mind running into again? In this eclectic year for the movies, who were the characters that stayed with us? Who were the ones......

How Queen of tennis Serena prepared for royal wedding

'Do you like my necklace ... Do you like my braids?'   IMAGE: Serena Williams gets ready for her friend Meghan Markle's wedding to Britain's Prince Harry. Photograph: Serena Williams/Instagram......

Is De Grasse the rightful heir to Bolt's crown?

‘I love competing against him, it's an honour to be a part of history, of what he's accomplished in his career ... but overall, if his time is up, I guess a new person has to come in......

A high-five for our hockey team

Be it because we were playing against Pakistan; or that we were fighting for a bronze medal in one of hockey's premier tournaments. Be it because the media hard sold the event; or that we were made......